Manuscripts Relating to Slavery

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One-page letter dated December 18, 1855, from William Goodell in New York, to Lysander Spooner in Boston [Massachusetts], giving his approval of Spooner's "form of a letter to be forwarded to Congress, with the form of petition."

Manuscript copy of a four-page letter from Gerrit Smith of Peterboro [New York] to Hon. D. [David] Wilmot, in which he responds to a letter from Wilmot discussing slavery and the United States Constitution, and sends him a copy of Lysander Spooner's "the Unconstitutionality of Slavery."

One-page letter dated January 5, 1855, from William Goodell on behalf of the American Abolition Society in New York, to Lysander Spooner in Boston, Massachusetts, ordering a supply of his book, The Unconstitutionality of Slavery, for distribution to all members of congress, as well as additional copies to sell and give away.

One-page letter and envelope dated September 23, 1866, from Hez L. [Hezekiah Lord] Hosmer in Virginia City to Lysander Spooner [probably in Boston, Massachusetts] written on the back of a circular titled "Chief Justice H. L. Hosmer's Charge to the Grand Jury."

Manuscript draft of an eight-page letter from Lysander Spooner in Worcester [Massachusetts] to Gerrit Smith, dated July 5, 1849, describing his analysis of the United States Constitution in regards to slavery.

Undated pledge of moneys to be paid to Lysander Spooner for "a review of Judge Kane's late decision, that the U.S. Courts have no constitutional right to punish for contempt without trial by jury." Signed by several prominent abolitionists, including Ellis Gray Loring, Francis Jackson, and Samuel E. Sewall.

Two-page letter from Gerrit Smith of Peterboro [New York] to Lysander Spooner in Boston, Massachusetts, dated November 12, 1847, in which Smith pledges funds to support Spooner as he writes his newest book and discusses an anti-slavery convention in Buffalo [New York].

Two-page letter from Gerrit Smith in Peterboro [New York] to Lysander Spooner in Boston, Massachusetts, dated November 6, 1855, in which he expresses his pleasure that Spooner is writing an argument "on the Wilhelm case" and discusses the distribution of 300 copies of Spooner's book, "the Unconstitutionality of Slavery."

Manuscript draft of a four-page letter dated January 19, 1846, from Lysander Spooner Athol [Massachusetts] to George Bradburn in Boston [Massachusetts], asking Bardburn to solicit prominent names to sign a petition and then have the petition presented to the United States legislature.

Four-page letter from Lysander Spooner in Boston [Massachusetts] to Gerrit Smith, dated November 2, 1855, in which Spooner disucsses anti-slavery arguments and the distribution of 300 copies of his book, "the Unconstitutionality of Slavery."

Two-page letter from Gerrit Smith of Peterboro [New York] to Lysander Spooner in Boston, Massachusetts, dated December 4, 1847, regarding copies of Spooner's petition to Congress that Smith has forwarded on to Elizur Wright.

Four-page letter dated January 19, 1846, from Lysander Spooner Athol [Massachusetts] to George Bradburn in Boston [Massachusetts], asking Bardburn to solicit prominent names to sign a petition and then have the petition presented to the United States legislature.

Four-page letter dated October 27, 1845, from Lysander Spooner in Athol [Massachusetts] to George Bradburn in Boston, discussing Supreme Court decisions related to slavery, the death of Spooner's mother, and the public reception of his book [The Unconstitutionality of Slavery].

Two-page letter from John A. Reed in Mount Vernon, Ohio, to Lysander Spooner dated July 2, 1851, asking Spooner to send the names and P.O. addresses of "those members of your Legislature who voted for Hon. Chas. [Charles] Sumner [?]."

Four-page letter dated November 28, 1855, from William Goodell in New York, to Lysander Spooner [in Boston, Massachusetts], in which he approves of Spooner's plan to "agitate the Constitutional question."

One-page letter and envelope from Bela Marsh in Boston [Massachusetts] to Lysander Spooner in Worcester [Massachusetts], dated October 11, 1849, in which he forwards a transcription of Gerrit Smith's reply to Marsh's inquiry about distributing Spooner's book to United States lawyers.

Draft of an eight-page letter dated January 20, 1847, from [Lysander Spooner in Winchendon, Massachusetts] to George Bradburn discussing general news of the abolitionist movement and the progress of his writing of a work called "Poverty" and providing an article he hopes to have published "as the leading editorial in the American" in order to raise funds that will help publish and distribute his book.

Four-page letter dated December 11, 1855, from William Goodell in New York, to Lysander Spooner [in Boston, Massachusetts], discussing Spooner's draft of a petition to Congress to abolish slavery, submitted to the American Abolition Society.

Resolution by the American Anti-Slavery Society stating that members for the present year [undated] pledge the minimum sum of one dollar, and that their names be published weekly in the [National] Anti-Slavery Standard.